Poor air quality can have serious health repercussions. N95 masks will be a helpful tool to protect yourself from inhaling smoke during this time. There is still a significant risk for major air quality impacts on Thursday, however, especially as the day wears on and the cloud cover possibly breaks. It may have limited wildfire activity and smoke production in Quebec on Wednesday, and the cloud cover may also limit mixing in the atmosphere, which would help keep the smoke elevated above the surface. The wind direction is very favorable to bring the smoke in, but cloud cover is a big wildcard. "People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke." WATCH: What parents should know about wildfire smoke and their kidsĪlthough we are forecasting to see worse air quality in the GTA Thursday, there has been some cloud cover over the Quebec wildfires, so it's harder to see how much smoke will actually push its way into southern Ontario. Continue to take actions to protect your health and reduce exposure to smoke," says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the statement. "Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations. People are being urged to keep their doors and windows closed and to reduce time spent outdoors. Widespread special air quality statements are still in effect for both provinces, but with the worst of the air quality expected to impact parts of the GTA on Thursday.
PHOTOS: Canadian wildfires cause hazy skies, poor air quality in Canada, US
This year so far, the province has seen over 440 wildfires, with roughly 638,000 hectares of land burned - already surpassing the 1991 total of about 350,000 hectares. By this time last year, 202 fires had burned throughout Quebec. As of Thursday morning, there are around 140 active wildfires burning in Quebec and scores of fires burning in northern Ontario, as well.